Apex predators have a major impact on an ecosystem, both from the point of view of controlling prey density and restricting smaller predators. They are crucial to the functioning of ecosystems, controlling disease and maintaining biodiversity. On land, in the air and in water. Some of the apex predators in the Canadian Rockies are bears, wolves, Bald Eagles, and more recently, in the rivers we’re seeing or coming across signs of river otter presence in the Bow Valley. The North American river otter is an apex predator. The otter population was nearly wiped out in southern Alberta. If their population keeps increasing, it will be a great success story for nature. Since their diet includes fish, frogs, birds, bird’s eggs, small mammals such as muskrats and young beavers and more. These species will be less happy with the river otter’s return. In the last few years those of us who spend lots of time outdoors have been experiencing a rare sighting of the otters. Hopefully, in the near future, it will be less rare.
